Sustainable Ecological Communitybased Model for Adolescent Substance Abuse

Sustainable, Ecological, Community-based Model for Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Incorporating the Promotion of Developmental Assets by the Faith-based Community: Presented by: Beth Bascom (November 8, 2004)

Adolescent substance abuse is a serious health issue • “Most destructive health and social problem facing our Nation today” (Donna Shalala) • Despite spending $250 billion/year on substance abuse prevention, our youth continue to use at unacceptable rates. Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Adolescent Drug Use: Overview of Key Findings, 2001. NIH, 2001 A Abbott (2002) Health & Social Work

Current Best Practice: Ecological, Community-based Model The current ecological model includes a multifaceted, communitybased approach that targets not only people’s individual behavior, but the social/political/physical systems that surround and impact them. Grzywacz & Fuqua (2000), Behavioral Youth Sport League Organization Community Center ATOD Program School Government Family Faith Business Congregation Faith Congregation

Current Best Practice: Protective Factors “ Influences that modify, ameliorate, or alter a person’s response to some environmental hazard that predisposes to a maladaptive outcome” r (1985), British J of Psychiatry

Protective Factors Research Finding • More risk factors an individual has, the greater the impact of protective factors. Scales, et al (2002) J of Early Adolescence Regnerus (2003), J of Scientific Study of Religion Oman (2004), AJPH

Protective Factor Model “Views youth as resources instead of potential problems, focusing on providing them with an environment that encourages positive growth and development, despite potential adversity. ” Oman (2004), AJPH

Powerful Protective Factor: 40 Developmental Assets • External • Internal – Support – Commitment to Learning – Empowerment – Positive Values – Boundaries & Expectations – Social Competencies – Constructive Use of Time – Positive Identity www. search-institute. org (2000)

The Power of Developmental Assets Search Institute

9 Developmental Assets • Peer role models • Use of time (religion) • Responsible choices (females) • Non-parental adult role models • Use of time (groups/sports) • Community involvement • Aspirations for the future • Family communication • Good health practices Oman (2004) AJPH

Key Finding of Recent Study “The combination of assets may be more effective than any single asset for preventing risk behavior. ” Oman (2004) AJPH

Protective Factor: Religion has consistently been demonstrated to be a protective factor for a number of adolescent health-related outcomes. Cochran (1992) J of Drug Issues Cook (Nov 2001) Mental Health, Religion & Culture Nonnemaker, et al. (Dec 2003) Soc Science & Medicine

Despite the robust research connecting religious faith and lower incident of substance abuse, there is a lack of ecological, communitybased intervention models that effectively incorporate the faithbased community.

Key Components of Community-based Interventions • Mobilizing the Community • Implementing Interventions in Multiple Settings • Using Multiple Individual-level Intervention Strategies • Developing Environmental Interventions Merzel & D'Afflitti (2003) AJPH

Mobilizing the Community through Coalitions Youth Sports League Organization Community Center ATOD Program School Government Family Faith Congregation Business Faith Congregation

Mobilizing the Community: Challenge • Coalitions are complex organizations that require considerable effort to create and operate successfully. Wandersman & Florin (2003) American Psychologist

Challenges of Including Faith Congregations in Coalitions • Nature of faith-based organization – Firmly held ideologies define who they are • Perceptions – Interpretation of the 1 st Amendment – Compromise convictions/ideologies (faith congregation) – Force convictions on others (other members of coalition) • Youth leaders are very busy • Focused on own activities

Mobilizing the Community • Are community-wide coalitions the only way to mobilize all elements of a community? • Must all the elements of the community be involved in a coalition in order to successfully mobilize the community?

Mobilizing the Community through Shared Focus Sport League DA DA ATOD Program Community Center DA Youth Organization DA DA Family DA DA A D Government Faith Congregation School Business Faith Congregation DA = Developmental Assets

Implementing Interventions in Multiple Settings through Shared Focus Sport League DA DA ATOD Program Community Center DA Youth Organization DA DA School DA DA Family Government DA A D DA Faith Congregation Business Faith Congregation DA = Developmental Assets

Is the Promotion of Developmental Assets Appealing to Faith Organizations? • Consistent with tenets/beliefs of most faith communities. • Helps young people make healthy choices and grow in their faith. • Fosters a congregational-wide commitment to young people. • Provides opportunities to link with the broader community.

Is the Promotion of Developmental Assets Legal? • Each organization, including various faith congregations, can promote the Developmental Assets (DA’s) within the context of their ideology (freedom of expression). • If governmental funding is involved, the program promoting the DA’s can be designed within legal parameters (nonestablishment). • All programs, regardless of ideology, can

Example of Faith-based Program Unintentionally promoting Developmental Assets: Hoops and Homework* • Positive Adult Relationships • Constructive Use of Time –Sports • Commitment to Learning *After school program where students work on homework and then play basketball.

Example of Intentional Promotion of Developmental Assets: Hoops and Homework • Positive Adult Relationship – Engage more adults – Train them in Asset Building • Constructive Use of Time –Sports – Train using “Hey Coach” (Search Inst) • Commitment to Learning • Responsibility All actions are framed within context of personal choice and consequences. • Peaceful Conflict Resolution – Consistent steps for conflict resolution. – Consistent consequences for nonpeaceful resolution.

Coalition Driven Promotion of Developmental Assets ATOD Youth Center DA Youth Org DA DA DA Govern’t Cong DA Family Faith A Faith School D DA DA DA – Engage all organizations in the community in the promotion of Developmental Assets. – Promote Asset Building Programs. – Provide community-wide Asset Building training. Sport DA • Possible Goals of Coalition Business Cong DA = Developmental Assets